Researchers hope to use the new information about the KLF14 gene to control type 2 diabetes and obesity (Source: bacterialvagi.us)

A study of 800 UK female twins shows that the mother's copy of the gene provides the ability to control other genes associated with metabolic traits

Researchers
from the University
of Oxford and King's College London have made a
crucial discovery that could lead to the development of better treatments and
maybe even a cure for type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Professor
Tim Spector, study leader from the Department of Twin Research at King's
College London, and Professor Mark McCarthy, co-author of the University of
Oxford, have determined how a previously discovered gene that is linked to type 2 diabetes and cholesterol acts as a
regulator for the gene's that reside within the body's fat.

KLF14 has
been linked to type 2 diabetes and cholesterol levels in previous studies. But
now, scientists have figured out how this gene acts as a regulator for genes
located in far-away body fat.

"KLF14
seems to act as a master switch controlling processes that connect
changes in the behavior of subcutaneous fat to disturbances in muscle and liver
that contribute to diabetes and other conditions," said McCarthy. "We
are working hard right now to understand these processes and how we can use
this information to improve treatment of these conditions."

A child
inherits a set of genes from both the mother and the father. In this study,
researchers found that the KLF14 gene inherited its activity from the mother
while the father's KLF14 gene remains inactive. The KLF14's ability to control
distant genes in the body's fat is completely dependent on the mother's
version.

They
discovered that the mother's KLF14 gene controls other genes associated with body-mass index (obesity), insulin,
glucose levels and cholesterol. This means that KLF14 is a "master
switch" that controls and shows the connections between metabolic traits.

Researchers
made this discovery by recruiting 800 UK female twin participants and studying
over 20,000 genes in subcutaneous fat biopsies. They also looked at genes in
subcutaneous fat biopsies from Icelandic participants. Between the two studies,
researchers discovered the connections between the KLF14 gene and distant genes
associated with metabolic traits.

"This
is the first major study that shows how small changes in one master regulator
gene can cause a cascade of other metabolic effects in other genes," said
Spector. "This has great therapeutic potential particularly as by studying
large detailed populations such as the twins we hope to find more of these
regulators."

This study was published in Nature
Genetics, and is part of multinational collaboration funded by the
Wellcome Trust called the MuTHER study.

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I present the opinion of someone who lost approximately 180 pounds beginning in 2009. I currently maintain a body weight of approximately 180 pounds. Weight loss and the ins and outs of it so to speak, have been my life for the last two years.

I was always heavy as well, Though not diabetic. Through a combination of factors. It is however harder for me to achieve the same results others do. I was not "blessed" so to speak with a good metabolism.

I definitely do know people that fit within that category. Most everyone knows someone like that, who can eat horrendously and in massive quantities yet be as thin as a rail.

The genetics are undeniable, and as pleasing as it may be for some people to sit back and bitch people out for not exercising, it is in fact more of a challenge for some people than others. Denying scientific discovery based on a very narrow personal perspective only makes one look ignorant.

If you have never had to struggle with it, take it from someone who has, and has accomplished the goal, it is easy to make it sound simple. Just eat less and exercise right? In the end if you haven't done it, you should probably step back, re-evaluate your advice, and realize what a douchebag you sound like when you offer blatant and uninformed opinions such as the above.

Get real- when you were 360 pounds, you were eating like crap and not exercising. To lose 180, you didn't get a genetic switch turned off, you got off your ass and quit eating twinkies. Were you fat when you were a kid? Your parents probably screwed you from the start, at the dinner table and lack of activity, and you never knew what healthy was your entire life.

I too used to be very over weight. I'm now 155 and gradually increasing my weight intentionally while lifting.

It's "difficult", but I don't think it's wrong for people to tell you to exercise and eat correctly. Even with variations in your genetic ability to handle calorie consumption, in the end you're merely limited by willpower. It's very, very rare to be unable to gain much weight or lose weight due to genetic issues, and such problems tend to have life threatening side effects.

A lot of people tend to confuse habitual with genetic. Reducing your calories may make you feel a bit hungry all day, and running may wear you out for the first few weeks, but you'll get over it in the long run, and in the end the health and energy benefits are worthwhile.

quote: I too used to be very over weight. I'm now 155 and gradually increasing my weight intentionally while lifting.

Is it difficult for you to gain weight? I have been pretty skinny for most of my life and got tired of looking like a pre-teen. Once I figured it out, it only took me a year to gain 20 lbs but it took me a while to figure it out.